Am I too old to wear this?

I was reminded of a story the other day that still makes me laugh… and cringe a little.

Years ago, I became fixated on my knees. Yes, my knees.

It started after a viewer sent in a comment about how my knees looked on camera. I don’t remember the exact wording anymore, but I remember exactly how it made me feel. 

Suddenly I wasn’t thinking about the story I had just anchored or the work I was proud of, I was thinking about whether I should sit differently, dress differently, or hide parts of myself I had never questioned before.

And here’s the part that feels almost silly to admit now: I let that one comment live in my head for way too long.

Because it was never really about my knees, it was really about confidence and how easy it is, especially in midlife, to let outside voices shape how we see ourselves.

One thing that’s helped me rebuild that feeling is surprisingly simple. It’s doing simple acts like skincare or wearing things that make me feel like myself again. I collected all of the pieces I reach for when I want to feel comfortable, but put together because that is when I feel the most confident. You can find them here.

Anyway… that’s my little “saggy knees” confession for the week. If you’ve ever had a moment where one comment stuck with you longer than it should have, just know you’re not alone. We all have those stories and we all get to decide what we do with them next. 

Xo, Tamsen

P.S. My new solo episode is live, and it’s probably the most honest I’ve been about confidence, aging, and the stories we carry in our heads. If this email resonated, you’ll want to listen to this one.

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